By Jonathan Stempel
NEW YORK (Reuters) – The estate of Chuck Close, the artist known for his massive photorealistic portraits of himself and others, has settled a lawsuit accusing Cigna (NYSE:) of failing to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for necessary medical care in the final years of his life.
In a filing late Friday in Manhattan federal court, an attorney for Close's estate said the two sides have reached an agreement in principle to settle and expect to complete it within 45 days and dismiss the case. Terms were not disclosed.
Cigna, the insurer's attorney and the attorney for Close's estate did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Close died in August 2021 at the age of 81.
In 1988, when he became paralyzed by a rare spinal artery tear, he used a wheelchair and was later diagnosed with Alzheimer's and frontotemporal dementia. Close began receiving home nursing care in 2015.
The estate sued Cigna in August 2022 for $686,723 in “wrongfully denied benefits” plus interest.
Last December, a judge dismissed Cigna's countersuit to recover $357,684 for services it believed were not medically necessary.
Close's larger-than-life portraits featured many well-known figures, including the composer Philip Glass and the model Kate Moss. Her portraits could be indistinguishable from photographs when reproduced, as in books.
The case is Estate of Close v Cigna Health and Life Insurance Corp, United States District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 22-07449.
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